Russia and USA get off to quick starts; knock off Latvia and Germany respectively

Of the four games scheduled for Opening Day at the World U-20 Hockey Championships, two are in the books, one is underway, and another will kick off in under an hour.

The first game was at the Civic Centre, non-host of the Ottawa Senators, and the host for round-robin play at the Championships.

The Civic Centre will also play host to the post-round-robin play, not involving the Quarterfinal or Semi Final teams.

Game 1 of the 31 game tournament was between Latvia and Russia.

Nauris Enkuzens started in net for Latvia, while Danila Alistratov got the call in net for the Russians.

Russia got off to a lead before the game had had an intermission, as Vyacheslav Voinov scored his first of the tournament with the man advantage. Dmitri Kulikov and Pavel Chernov had assists for the Russians. 1-0 for the ex-Soviets after one.

With just over 8 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, the Russians added to their lead, as Pavel Chernov picked up his second point of the afternoon, on an even-strength goal. Sergei Andronov had an assist on the goal, as Chernov made it 2-0 for Russia.

The 3rd period didn't get off to the start that the Latvians wanted, as just 7 minutes in, with Ronalds Cinks in the box for Latvia, Maxim Goncharov had a blast from the point that beat Enkuzens, and Russia was now up by three. Nikita Klyukin and Mikhail Pashnin had assists on the second powerplay goal of the evening.

Latvia answered back, albeit with two minutes remaining in the hockey game, as Janis Ozolins had a tally put beside his name, on his second shot of the hockey game. Roberts Jekimovs also had his first point of the season with the assist on Ozolins' assist.

With the lead trimmed to a pair, Latvia had a shot, slim or not, but Dmitri Klopov put the nail in the coffin with a goal of his own with 12 seconds remaining in the game. 4-1 Russia was the final.

Game Notes:

- Danila Alistratov stopped 14 of the 15 shots that came his way, while his counterpart for Latvia, Nauris Enkuzens faced 44 shots, and blocked 40 of said shots.

- Of the 15 shots on goal for Latvia, Roberts Bukarts was responsible for 1/3 of them, as he had 5 shots in the game. Roberts Jekimovs and Janis Ozolins (with the goal) each had two shots.

- While the 5 shots for Bukarts looks good for Latvia, Dmitri Klopov had 7 shots for Russia, including a goal, while Nikita Filatov, a Columbus prospect, had 6, and Dmitri Kulikov had 4 shots, and had an assist.

- Russia was 2 for 6 on the Powerplay, with their first and third goals coming with a Latvian in the box.

Germany vs USA:

In Game 2 of the tournament, and the first featured on TSN, the Germans and Americans faced off at Scotiabank Place, which was hosting its first game of the tournament.

The Americans had Thomas McCollum blocking shots, while Timo Pielmeier started the game for the Germans between the pipes.

Both teams exchanged penalties in the early opening, with the Germans heading to the box first, b efore the Americans were sent off for Slashing. Germany took a penalty to Captain Toni Ritter, before another German went off, this time for Slashing, and suddenly the Americans had a 5 on 3.

Colin Wilson took advantage of this, and scored his first of the tournament, from Jordan Schroeder and Kevin Shattenkirk. 1-0 USA.

Germany tied the game with Toni Ritter's first of the tournament, on a shot McCollum may not have seen. 1-1 was the score at the time.

Drayson Bowman of the Spokane Chiefs has been 'double-teamed' for most of the last two years due to his ability to put the puck in the net, but at this tournament he's just another guy, so the fact he scored in the first period can't come as too much of a surprise. 2-1 Americans after Bowman's from O'Brien and Mitch Wahl of Bowman's Spokane Chiefs.

Jordan Schroeder wasn't happy his team - heavy favourites for the Gold Medal or at least the Silver or Bronze - were still in a close game with Germany, so the NHL Draft prospect netted his first of the tournament past Pielmeier, and suddenly the Americans were cooking, 3-1 after the unassisted marker.

James van Riemsdyk netted his first of the tourny with Germany's captain in the box for the 2nd time, from Wilson and Schroeder. The powerplay goal brought the American lead to three.

Tyler Johnson scored less than two minutes later, an even strength goal bringing the score to 5-1, the same score that would be at the end of two. Hoeffel and McDonagh had assists on Johnson's first.

Just 35 seconds into the third, van Riemsdyk came out with another beauty goal, that should've been whistled down, but it still counted. 6-1 USA. Wilson and Schroeder assisted on his goal.

7-1 was the score after Drayson Bowman's second of the game, from Mitch Wahl, his Spokane teammate.

Patrick Pohl brought the deficit to 5 with his first of the game, 7-2 Americans. Jerome Flaake and Daniel Weiss had assists on Germany's second goal.

Now, with just around 10 seconds left, the USA took off with a fast break chance down the ice. You'd think with one second left they'd play back and not try to do anything, but that wasn't the case as Matt Rust scored a goal with just one second remaining in the hockey game.

8-2 for the Americans was the final score.

Game Notes:

- Germany's goalie Timo Pielmeier was pulled after two periods, after he let in 5 goals on 32 shots. Pielmeier left the game when his team was down 5-1. He made some remarkable saves, and may have a future in North American professional hockey if he plays like this for the rest of the tournament...maybe if he can let in less goals though.

- His backup Philipp Grubauer stopped 11 of the 14 shots that came his way in the 3rd.

- Germany's Captain did have their first goal of the game, but Toni Ritter did have 4 PIMs as well, and two of the US' 8 goals came with Ritter in the box.

- Jordan Schroeder of the Americans, who is vying to be a Top 5 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, got off to a good start, as he picked up a goal and 3 assists in this game.

- Linemate James van Riemsdyk had a pair of goals on 7 shots, while the other player on the top trio of players, Colin Wilson, had a goal and a pair of assists.

- Mitch Wahl had two assists while Spokane teammate Drayson Bowman had two goals in this one, and the two of them probably have a lot more left in the tank before this tournament is over.

- Jon Blum, Captain of the US Team and the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, didn't have any points, he did have 4 shots, but the most important stat may be the +3 that lead his team today. If he can be a leader and help his team score goals, they could go far this winter.

- Thomas McCollum started the game in net for the Americans, but his spot isn't guaranteed, and like Canada, Josh Unice (the Americans backup today) will start the next game, according to rumours. McCollum stopped 16 of the 18 shots that came his way.

Sweden plays Finland, and Canada plays the Czech Republic later this evening.